The literary world knows him as a multifaceted scholar who compiled the first encyclopaedia ( Kalaikalanjiyam ) in Tamil and a separate encyclopaedia for children.
The music world knows him as a fine composer of bhakti-soaked evergreen songs, such as Muruga Muruga in s averi and Muralidhara Gopala in maand .
But, Periyasamy Thooran’s journey into the field of music began as a composer of Bharathanatyam songs, and his first composition was for the performance of disciples of V.P. Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan.
Now, the Dhananjayans have choreographed Azhagu Deivam , a dance drama, explaining the concept of Lord Muruga, the God of Beauty and Tamil, based on the compositions of Thooran. It will be staged on March 29 by Bharata Kalanjali established by them.
Recalling their association with Thooran, Mr. Dhananjayan said everyone frowned when they decided to use the songs of a modern composer, as the Bharathanatyam world was dominated by the songs of Arunachala Kavirayar’s Rama Nataka keerthanas , Arunachala Kavirayar’s songs and Dharmapuri Subbarayar’s padams .
He first choreographed Thooran’s dance drama Kaadhal Valli Kanda Murugan , which was originally enacted as a music drama by the All India Radio (AIR).
After Rukmini Arundale, the founder of Kalakshetra, dispensed with erotic-laden padams meant for dance, there were not many Tamil compositions meant for Bharathanatyam.
The Dhananjayans, keen on exploring new ideas after their exit from Kalakshetra in 1968, introduced Tamil songs by Subramania Bharathiyar and Balamuralikrishna. Their alliance with Thooran became an instant hit as they staged Kaadhal Valli Kanda Murugan as many as 300 times across Tamil Nadu and in the U.S. and Japan. In fact, Thooran’s first composition for Bharathanatyam aadum mayil vaganan set to ragamalika effectively conveyed the concept ninda sthuthi .
“There are stanzas in Kalidasa’s Kumarsambava discouraging Parvathi from marrying Siva, the God of graveyard. In a similar way, Thooran captured the conversation between Valli, obsessed with Muruga, and her friend,” Mr. Dhananjayan said.
While most of the Thooran’s compositions were set to music by late T.K. Govinda Rao, the music for Bharathanatyam songs were scored by Thuraiyur Rajagopala Sharma, a music teacher of the Kalakshetra.
“We have included both compositions for our latest two-hour venture. I myself will dance to the song Muruga Muruga,” Mr Dhananjayan said.
Thooran’s first composition of Bharathanatyam song was for dancing legend’s disciples
